Vaud: solar feasibility study for large car parks and infrastructure
For building permit applications filed from six months after the law enters into force (set for 1 January 2027), building or renovating a car park with more than 2,000 m² of parking area that is not attached to a building will require a solar feasibility study.
AdoptedEntry into force: 1 January 2027.
What changes
- For building permit applications filed from six months after the law enters into force, building or renovating, where a permit is required, a car park with more than 2,000 m² of parking area that is not attached to a building will require a feasibility study for a solar installation, to be attached to the application. The installation is considered relevant if the study finds a payback period of less than 15 years; the authority checks the study’s conclusions and rules on the obligation to build the installation. If the car park is attached to the site of a large consumer, the obligations of Art. 50 of the law apply instead.
- The law and its regulation enter into force on 1 January 2027.
Who it concerns
- Architects and buildersArchitects and engineering firms: for a car park with more than 2,000 m² of parking area that is not attached to a building, the solar feasibility study will have to be attached to the permit application.
- EnergySolar companies: the installation is considered relevant if the study finds a payback period of less than 15 years; the authority checks the study and rules on the obligation to build the installation.
The official text
« Lors de la construction et de la rénovation d'infrastructures d'envergure, notamment routières ou de loisirs, une étude de faisabilité pour la réalisation d'une installation photovoltaïque doit être réalisée »
« les parkings non rattachés à un bâtiment d'une surface de stationnement de plus de 2'000 m² »
« L'installation photovoltaïque est considérée comme pertinente si l'étude de faisabilité conclut à un retour sur investissement inférieur à 15 ans »
« L'étude de faisabilité doit être jointe à la demande d'autorisation de construire »
What we do not know yet
- Applications filed before the six months have elapsed remain subject to the old energy act.
- Infrastructure attached to a building falls under another article of the law: this article does not go into it.
- The law also covers other major infrastructure, in particular roads and leisure facilities; this article only covers car parks.